Dream team at British service

Moreover, by the time the next mission rolls around in September, the line-up to savour will almost certainly have already been consigned to the history books.

Captain John Lloyd surveyed his team in the cavernous Hall 5 at Birmingham's NEC - Andy Murray, Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski and Jamie Murray.

Three top ten players of the past and near future and a world-class doubles specialist.

Facing them is a Netherlands team that will be delighted to win a single set while the match remains alive.

It hardly seems fair. Then again, Henman and Rusedski know a thing or two about lack of fairness in the Davis Cup.

For years they toiled side by side over the long weekends, playing two singles rubbers each and teaming up for the doubles against countries with strength in depth and the opportunity to rest players.

As a result, Henman and Rusedski never managed to record the World Group victory both craved.

Enter the Murray brothers. Sooner than expected, but not quite soon enough for all four men to play together at the peak of their powers.

Rusedski hinted he will retire after this weekend's Euro-African Zone, Group One tie against the Dutch, while Henman's return from self-imposed exile will surely only offer him two opportunities at most to win that elusive World Group tie.

Still, if the dream team are only together for this week the experience is being cherished.

Henman said: "Greg and I have said in the past that if we could have had this depth and these options a few years ago, it would have been to our advantage.

"But right now, it's still something that excites us all. We want to try and take advantage of it and the way we do that is by winning this tie.

"I'm very excited to be back and alongside these guys in the team. There's always been a good spirit but the whole set-up this week has been fantastic.

"That was important for me because a couple of years ago with the cumulative effect of playing as much as I had, I was struggling a little bit with Davis Cup. I feel very refreshed and excited to be here."

What Henman omitted to say was that he feels a commitment to Lloyd that was never there towards previous Great Britain captain Jeremy Bates.

Murray was also less than enamoured of Bates and his dour style of management - a contrast with the effervescence Lloyd brings to the role. The Scot yesterday pronounced himself fit to play following the minor groin injury sustained in Miami last week.

He said: "I've had a few scans now and spoken to the doctors and physios. I don't feel that I'm doing myself more damage by playing, which made the decision a lot easier."

Murray begins the tie at noon against Dutch journeyman Raemon Sluiter. He will be followed by Henman, who aims to make Robin Haase's 20th birthday an unhappy one.

Rusedski will have to wait until Saturday's doubles to bid farewell to the British crowd, if that is to be his decision. He said: "I'm definitely nearing the end. I just haven't made an official decision.

"I know I've been saying that for two years but there's part of me that wants to keep on going and there's part of me that wants to stop.

"What I've practised for since January was to get ready for this tie. I'll play the tie and make a final decision after it."

A final decision that is likely to rip apart a team it has taken years and the tennis fates to assemble. Savour it now, for it will be gone all too soon.

TODAY (noon start) Andy Murray v Raemon Sluiter Tim Henman v Robin Haase

TOMORROW (1pm) Greg Rusedski & Jamie Murray v Rogier Wassen & Igor Sijsling

SUNDAY (noon) Andy Murray v Haase Henman v Sluiter TV: Today - BBC 2 (12-3pm), BBCi (2-6pm).